#WRON

[stephensmithuk]

"Army-crammer"

You may be wondering what one of these was, so I'll give a quick explanation.

An idea imported from Imperial China, where it had been going since the end of the 6th Century CE, the British at this time had a series of competitive exams you would do if you wanted to join the civil service (either UK or Indian) or become an officer in the British Army. These has been introduced to improve the quality of the men in the organisations and get rid of the problems caused by patronage by selecting on merit.

You would take this exam, covering a wide range of topics from the classics (of course) to modern languages to geography. If you passed, you were eligble for a role, although still needed to undergo the other sorts of checks you still do for employment today - background checks, health checks and also oral testing to make sure you knew your stuff.

Some more stuff here:

I think the "Modern Major-General Song" was influenced by this - officers who had a lot of broad knowledge, but not that much of use in a military context. Although the croaking chorus from The Frogs of Aristophanes would make a great password.

You would have various organisations, either tutors or full-time schools, to help young men prepare for these exams.

The exams are largely a thing of the past in the UK, but are still very much around in India, where the UPSC to join their civil service is considered possibly the toughest exam in the world:

Those who got into the Army officer training programme would either go to the Royal Military Academy in Woolwich (for the Royal Artillery and Royal Engineers) or the Royal Military College in Sandhurst (infantry and cavalry).

However, while these exams were designed to make the Army more merit-based, it still tended to be the richer guys who ended up as "Ruperts". You had to buy a lot of your own kit and maintain it too. You still do have to pay for full ceremonial dress (generally red or black), No. 1 Dress (blue, for ceremonial events) and "mess dress", which is basically the military equivalent of evening wear.

This uniform could be bought from various places, including the Army & Navy Stores, a chain of department stores run by officers from both as a co-operative. Their stores covered a whole range of stuff for soldiers and their families, ranging from groceries to guns. They even expanded to India, although those branches went with independence. In 1973, they were bought out by House of Fraser; a chain that has had a bad last few years, with a large number of its stores closed or closing.

You can get allowances and tax relief on uniform costs today. There is also a big second-hand market.

Also, living the lifestyle associated with being an officer and a gentlemen wasn't cheap. You had to pay your mess bills, ensure that your sword was in good condition, keep up a decent social life etc.

Professor Moriarty from the Sherlock Holmes also was an army coach in his past, by the way.

[witekspicsbanknotes]

POLAND >>> SOLIDARNOŚĆ / SOLIDARITY time notes with gen. Jaruzelski shown here as the bad guy who supported communism in Poland and betrayd the nation for 30 srebrników (silver coins) -> thus the face value is 30. Underground commemorative notes for funds raising or collectors.

[eirinstiva]

Knight in shining armour

It's "The Wrong House" this time! Special thanks to my dear friend Bunny Manders <3

In this story Raffles got caught by a kid, and it's Bunny who can run away or save him.

Would Raffles leave me held by a hand through a hole in a door? What he would have done in my place was the thing for me to do now.

This. This moment is another proof of Bunny's loyalty. he can't leave alone Raffles and this time his head is cold and fast enough to come with a plan to rescue him. He had to take extreme measure against that kid and still he knows that maybe it was too much for the moment, but again~ this is Bunny Manders and his life goes around AJ Raffles.

Oh, I am not proud of it; the act was as vile as act could be; but I was not going to see Raffles taken, my one desire was to be the saving of him, and I tremble even now to think to what lengths I might have gone for its fulfilment.

One detail that I really love from this story is how Bunny reflects about his own actions and he doesn't hesitate in write them. He knows that what he did was extreme, he knows that is something that he would never do, but Raffles is his priority more than anything else.

Oh, but it was villainous, my part especially, for he must have been far gone to go the rest of the way so readily. I began by saying I was not proud of this deed, but its dastardly character has come home to me more than ever with the penance of writing it out. I see in myself, at least my then self, things that I never saw quite so clearly before. Yet let me be quite sure that I would not do the same again. I had not the smallest desire to throttle this innocent lad (nor did I), but only to extricate Raffles from the most hopeless position he was ever in; and after all it was better than a blow from behind. On the whole, I will not alter a word, nor whine about the thing any more.

(emphasis by me)

Bunny's moral are still more "black or white" that Raffles' grey one even after all the crimes he commited, but now he has more confidence on himself to be the knight in shining armour when is needed.

[eccentricmya]

The Valar's mistake did not lie in seeing a possibility of good in Melkor. Rather, their mistake lay in not seeing the equal possibility of him remaining evil.

[sweetlullabyebye]

Already made a post about Charles not being the biggest fan of Monty but rewatching the show just makes it even more obvious like

Edwin might've been worried about Crystal but Charles looks like a kicked puppy seeing him go talk to Monty

Then Edwin's just acting super weird and so is Monty and Charles is taking it very well

And all of a sudden Monty is nice to Charles?? And Charles looks so smug like "everyone likes me eventually" and all (meanwhile Niko cannot be bothered, stay hydrated)

Also if he wanted to keep up the friendliness after Monty's been nice to him, maybe he could've not refused the case despite everyone else agreeing (even Edwin)

And then he's just thrilled everytime Monty and Edwin are together 👍

[meirimerens]

pathologic fest day 12

"Misplaced Tenderness"

And even if it were to be wasted, would it not be kindly?

[jerrsterrr]

Me eating spoonful of Fish:

Voice in my head: youre probably disrespecting someones culture

Me outloud, alone, 11pm in a dark kitchen with just my phone light eluminating my spoon of tuna and onion: "do i look like a i give a fuck"

Comic idea that wont leave my brain: where everything ive ever dreamt is there and im sitting next to this person i keep dreaming from time to time, who ive never met. And we sit together, i still have that old vine around my neck and theyre still out of frame, and they ask "Are you avoiding them?" and i hum. "Yeah." We sit for just a beat longer and i sit up a bit straighter, "I dont want them to miss me when i die." AND THEN que me waking up in the exact same position going "HE WOULND NOT FUCKING SAY THA

[twisting-roads]

like, RW's ecosystem and AI is very complex and thought out... yet at the same time its not? I'll always remember joar's original idea of "smart enough to make mistakes" line from the devlog regarding lizards. Because its true

like, the AI has object permanence but the way its programmed can mean it might not always be right about where the hell you went. has nobody else seriously thought of that??

[thebibblebobb]

Insane how many people think wicked, a show that ends with Elphaba going: "Glinda... I couldn't do it... I couldn't save the animals... what they need is... a radical centrist to fix things from the inside".

Is like actively trying to be a hard hitting criticism of white feminism or centrism or whatever. Like I wish wicked was that based, I think it would be better for it, but it's not!

Like the amount of people I've seen say things along the lines of "If you like Glinda you're what's wrong with the world/have no media literacy" is genuinly insane, like guys the shows emotional core is built upon the assumption that you like her and believe her friendship with Elphaba is genuine. For Good literally does not work emotionally if you think Glinda was only ever self serving with Elphaba and is meant to be seen unambigously as a villain.

[max-nolastname]

types of story that different black sails characters think they're in:

jack: typical underdog overcoming unbeatable odds story; he is the main character and the show is 100% about him and his joseph campbell hero's journey. he is like achilles seeking eternal glory. he is also like gilgamesh, seeking immortality because he's afraid of death

flint: one of those fairytale retelling stories from the villain's pov; he is the fire-breathing dragon/big bad wolf/wicked witch that his village has ostracized, chased out of his home with pitchforks and torches because they feared him and what he is and what he stands for. he knows that in another show, a more popular show, the story would be told from the pov of the villagers about the dangers that lie beyond the village walls and into the forest...but this is HIS show and in HIS show HE is the one that survived the villagers not the other way around and HE is the one that has been wronged and he WILL see them pay for it

miranda: at first she thinks she is the witty and cunning heroine of a regency period romance novel. she is critical of high society and it's archaic and sexist traditions, turns her nose up at the institution of marriage and yet against all odds finds a true partner in thomas. she thinks herself happier and smarter than her peers, for finding a way to explore her sexuality freely and still keep her high status. she is caught in a whirlwind romance with a handsome naval officer and well....then her story turns into a tragedy and a decade caught in lifeless loveless joyless limbo where she is sidelined into the background of someone else's story

max: overly aware that she is in A Story and that she is Not The Main Character; the spotlight is never on her, she will never take centre stage. in fact, she is in the wings, or perhaps watching the show from the back of the theatre as the stage manager, setting the scene and directing others to pull ropes, shine lights, open and close the curtains so that other actors can strut and fret their way around the stage

billy: revenge quest story! thinks he is the good guy, there to protect his friends and get revenge on the tyrant who killed his father. gains some genre awareness and realizes that he is not, in fact, the main character, but rather a side character caught in a romance between his captain and quartermaster and if he really wants to survive he's really gotta break them up

madi: a story of hope told around a campfire, passed on from generation to generation so people don't forget about the time that an island of maroons stood up to a seemingly eternal and unbeatable empire. some days, it's a cautionary tale, on how volatile solidarity can be with divisions like class, race and gender .... or how revolution necessitates violence that people who are comfortable in their oppression rather not pay... but no empire lasts forever and nothing is inevitable. the story sticks in the hearts and minds of future revolutionaries and someday someone somewhere will pick up the torch and continue the fight

season 1 walrus crew: workplace comedy

silver: [redacted]

[anghraine]

melyzard replied to this post:

You know, given that P&P was published in 1813 before the 1696 window tax was repealed, she might just be admiring both the outdoors AND the expansive and numerous windows themselves. I mean, good windows really were a big sign of wealth and consequence until 1851 when the tax was finally repealed. But yeah,also,yeah, she's definitely more interested in the outdoors than the Great Chimney Places of the Wealthy

It's true that windows were a major status symbol at the time and long before, but I don't think Elizabeth much cares about that, in all honesty! That is the relevant historical context for Mr Collins's rhapsodies over Rosings' windows, for instance:

she could not be in such raptures as Mr Collins expected the scene to inspire, and was but slightly affected by his enumeration of the windows in front of the house, and his relation of what the glazing altogether had originally cost Sir Lewis de Bourgh

He's silly but he's not mistaken in identifying the windows as a significant status symbol (which without that cultural context can seem like just another Mr Collins absurdity). But Elizabeth specifically, as a person, is consistently not very interested in these kinds of status symbols (though she knows they're there and understands what they signify). She is attracted to natural beauty and unassuming elegance, which is the overwhelming note at Pemberley:

She had never seen a place for which nature had done more, or where natural beauty had been so little counteracted by an awkward taste.

Even when it does come to Pemberley's expensive interior, she focuses on the aesthetic dissimilarity to Rosings and, even more, about what is suggested about Darcy's relationships to other people dependent on him (Elizabeth's takeaway from the pretty interior decorating project for Georgiana is "He is certainly a good brother" and not how much disposable income this represents, say).

The fuller quote when she first approaches the window is pretty clear about what Elizabeth is focusing on, IMO:

Elizabeth, after slightly surveying it, went to a window to enjoy its prospect. The hill, crowned with wood, from which they had descended, receiving increased abruptness from the distance, was a beautiful object. Every disposition of the ground was good; and she looked on the whole scene, the river, the trees scattered on its banks, and the winding of the valley, as far as she could trace it, with delight. As they passed into other rooms, these objects were taking different positions; but from every window there were beauties to be seen.

[eirinstiva]

The Apotheosis of the Bunny

Hi! Bunny Manders sent the second and final part of "The Wrong House", story that I really love because Bunny is the one with a plan.

“We were bicycling past, and I actually saw one fellow come head-first through your pantry window. I think he got over the wall.” Here a breathless boy returned. “Can’t see anything of him,” he gasped. “It’s true, then,” remarked the crammer. “Look at that door,” said I.

We know that Bunny is not a good actor, but he has improved a lot since his first days as a cracksman. He still has room to improve and reach Raffles' level but there is progress on his abilities.

Come in all, before you get your death. I see lights in the class-room, and more than lights. Can these be signs of a carouse?” “A very innocent one, sir,” said a well set-up youth with more moustache than I have yet. “Well, Olphert, boys will be boys. Suppose you tell me what happened, before we come to recriminations.”

So this teenager has a better moustache than Bunny. I know that it's possible to be an adult with a light moustache, I mean, I just need to see the development of my brother's moustache. At least he finally has a moustache better than mine and probably, a lot more notorious than Bunny. Have you tried to dye your moustache, old chap?

Murphy's law strikes and Raffles and Bunny runned away bicycling up-hill. That should have been so hard! The fact that the kids almost catch them running barefoot says a lot. At least this will help them to have stronger legs.

“You don’t mean anything I did?” said I, self-consciously, for I began to see that this was what he did mean. And now at latest it will also be seen why this story has been told with undue and inexcusable gusto; there is none other like it for me to tell; it is my one ewe-lamb in all these annals. But Raffles had a ruder name for it. “It was the Apotheosis of the Bunny,” said he, but in a tone I never shall forget.

THIS ^

That's a good name!

“I hardly knew what I was doing or saying,” I said. “The whole thing was a fluke.” “Then,” said Raffles, “it was the kind of fluke I always trusted you to make when runs were wanted.” And he held out his dear old hand.

This is a cute way to end so funny story.

[buttfrovski]

my dumbass thought they spelled detective wrong

[candyriku]

I just posted my incredibly self-indulgent retired ballerina Soriku AU oneshot over on Ao3, so I drew this to celebrate! :)

Title: Pas De Deux

Rating: G

Words: 2,178

Chapters: 1/1

[sydneys-adamu]

claire: anything else you’re thinking about? (last thing she asks)

sydney: what are you thinking about? (first thing she asks)

and whom does carmy ask in return what she’s thinking as well? hint it’s not claire.

I think the most tragic thing is that this scene cements more than any other the simplicity of claire being a soundboard for carmy’s feelings and not much else. the time that’s not spent getting to know her but still being told we need to care about her feels so abrupt because that’s the exact place she holds in his life. someone he’s told to love but can’t list three good reasons why. she says things like “no one’s tracking shoes” and “never ever apologize” and that’s enough because on paper that’s the exact thing carmy wants to hear.

but with sydney the narrative draws focus to both their worries and thought processes. it matters to him what’s going on with her just as much as being asked that question, unlike claire. plus the honesty that’s missing from the first scene syd is right there to provide. of course adapting and knowing what the next move is important for the restaurant because they have no choice. exactly what he *needs* to hear. and yeah it’s because they’re both equally worried about the fire suppression test, and obviously, sydney is a main character but it wouldn’t have killed carmy to ask claire what shit she’s got going on lol. homie isn’t that your gf?

these two ask this man the same question but get two entirely different carmys in response and it’s like night and day,,, incredible. and no it’s not “work carmy” and “relationship carmy” it’s “robot carmy” and “actual human carmy” it’s the difference it’s the juxtaposition it’s the poetic storytelling it’s-

[nalesnik-z-morela]

In norwegian "six of crows" is translated as "crow art" and i haven't been so satisfied with a title translation in a long time

If you put that in polish ("wronia sztuka"), it sounds so edgy and epic bbxhsjsjsjjdhdhdhkka